Arch Alfred Moore, Jr.

Compiled by the West Virginia State Archives

Arch Alfred Moore, Jr. was born in Moundsville, Marshall County,
the grandson of the city's mayor F. T. Moore. After attending
Lafayette College and West Virginia University, he joined the
family law firm in Moundsville. As an Army combat sergeant in World
War II, Moore earned a bronze star and purple heart. He served one
term in the House of Delegates before being defeated for the United
States House of Representatives in 1954. He was elected to Congress
two years later and remained there until becoming governor in
1969.

With the passage of the Governor's Succession Amendment in 1970,
Moore became the first governor to succeed himself since 1872. The
1968 Modern Budget Amendment also gave him more budgetary powers
than any previous governor. Moore presided over the establishment
of the Department of Highways and the construction of modern
interstate systems, begun during the administration of Governor
Cecil Underwood. The Board of Regents was created to manage all
state colleges and universities. Other accomplishments of his first
term included designation of "black lung" as a coal mining disease
and the development of public kindergartens. Moore interceded in
labor activities, firing striking road maintenance workers and
Charleston transit workers, and helped negotiate an end to a
national coal strike.

On February 26, 1972, an earthen dam broke on Buffalo Creek, unleashing 135 million
gallons of water, near the community of Man, Logan County. The
resulting flood killed 125 people and 4,000 lost their homes and
possessions. Investigators determined illegal surface mining
practices to be the cause of the disaster. In one class action
suit, Pittston Coal Company paid $13.5 million to flood survivors,
who each received approximately $13,000 after legal costs. Although
the state sued the coal company for $100 million, Governor Moore
negotiated a $1 million settlement, while the state eventually paid
the federal government $9.5 million in clean-up costs and
interest.

During Moore's second term, new state medical schools were
established in Lewisburg and at Marshall University in Huntington.
One of his pet projects was the West Virginia Science and Culture
Center on the State Capitol Complex.

In 1975, Moore and his campaign manager were indicted for
extortion, the first seated governor to be officially charged with
a crime. Both were found not guilty.

After leaving office, Moore established private law practices in
Charleston, Moundsville, and Washington, D.C. He was defeated for
the United States Senate in 1978 and for governor in 1980. In 1984,
he defeated Democrat Clyde See to become the first governor elected
to three four-year terms.

At the beginning of Moore's third term, West Virginia had the
highest unemployment rate in the nation due to a recession in the
coal industry. Moore expanded corporate tax credits to attract
businesses to the state. In addition, the legislature reduced the
amount coal companies were required to pay into workers'
compensation.

In 1988, he was defeated in his re-election bid against Democrat
Gaston Caperton. In 1990, Moore was found guilty of mail fraud. He
served over two years in federal prison and paid a settlement.